Nobel Peace Prize

In a message concerning the recent awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, World Council of Churches general secretary, said the prize this year shows a strong message of support to all those around the world who are struggling for freedom, development and the dignity of all human beings.

Tveit's message follows:

This week is Nobel Prize week and for the next couple of days we will hear of great individuals who have exceeded expectations and given much to humanity.

The categories for the Nobel Prize are varied and diverse. The story about the origins of the Nobel Prize is fascinating. It is understood that when Alfred Nobel's brother Ludvig died, a French newspaper mistakenly ran an obituary for Alfred and called him the "merchant of death".

Asked yesterday what he wanted for South Africa, Desmond Mpilo Tutu said: “I will go to my grave happily when I see us become what we have it in us to become: caring, compassionate, gentle, sharing.”

Tutu was announcing that he was finally withdrawing from public life, starting in October, when he turns 79.

“The time has now come to slow down,” he said.

Written by Joe Sawatzky

On December 10, 2009, Barack Obama, the President of the United States, received the Nobel Peace Prize Award in Oslo, Norway. Obama received this award “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The nomination of Obama for a Nobel Peace Prize and its acceptance have been issues of much controversy due, in large part, for the short amount of time he has spent within the global political arena.